Visited Sri Lanka from 22nd to 30th November 2013. First impression: Right time to visit as the weather is just right with most days bright blue skies.
Sri Lanka is a poor country and still very colonial in its setup. You will find it really hard to get good food (this is my opinion some will beg to differ). Best food surprisingly is at the Yala Tree House (BBQ pork and chicken and breakfast of bacon and eggs and their interesting milk rice).

Our cost including airfare was S$1200 per pax excluding shopping and food for 8 days and nights. Seriously if you are negotiating with any tour company on any trip you have to spell everything in detail upfront and follow it accordingly or you might be shortchanged. There were three areas we were shortchanged, first, we were supposed to be located in the Topaz Hotel at Kandy but instead they said they upgraded to the Annex which is not right at the top of the hill. Second, we insist on a train trip from Kandy to Eliya as trip advisor consider this a beautiful trip but after a few stops we got down and continue to Eliya on the coach. We wanted to see genuine fishermen on stilts but the tour guide scuttle 2 shabilly dress person from the road side and made stand on one or two stilts which was kinda pathetic and we refused to photograph them but fortunately 1 mile ahead I spotted a group of around 10 fishermen on stilts fishing on a beautiful beach and made them stop and had some really beautiful pictures.

Our tour covers Ngombo at Cemelot Beach Hotel, beautiful hotel facing the sea. Then Sigirya, stayed at Sigirya Hotel Resort, again beautiful hotel, no complain about hotel on this trip. Sirgirya Rock Fortress is 200 metre high and you need to climb 1202 narrow steps to reach the top and will cost US$30. So, if you cannot or will not make the climb, don't waste your money. There may be some who will want to and some who don't and the guide will ask those who doesn't want to, come along anyway and we will put you in a beautiful rest house just by the Sigirya Rock Fortress. Do not accept, you'll end up in a rest house yes where you can only see the rock fortress a mile away and the coffee or tee in that rest house is not great. By the way Sri Lankan coffee is not great. I am not negative just stating my opinion. 1 night here is sufficient.
Habarana and DO Village traditional lunch was great (practically everywhere you go they will serve fish and chicken, seafood, but, rarely beef as they are budhist mostly and more rarely mutton as its expensive. Vegetable dishes are wonderful, so great if you're a vegetarian and you will say the food here is great. The bullock cart ride was bouncy but fun and interesting. If you are into temple, then visit the Dambulla Cave Temple.

Speed limit is 50 km and my advice is make sure you have a comfortable coach as you'll spend most of your time in the coach, average travel time is 3 to 5 hours. Topaz hotel in Kandy is the best right on top of the hill overlooking Kandy and beautiful sunrise and sunset. Go shopping, interesting little town.
My favourite is Nuwara Eliya in this beautiful tudor hotel known as Glendower, cooling and sometimes cold (make sure you ask for heater immediately you reach the hotel as they do not have enough to go round). Good food at the hotel and also this north indian restaurant just 100 km away known as Rogan Josh. Yala National Park, we insisted on staying the Yala Tree House (google Yala Tree House)or you can contact appuhamiyala@gmail.com to correspond with them for booking. Good food, buy the pork and chicken and whatever else and they will BBQ for you on slow charcoal fire. Breakfast was great too, bacon and eggs, milk rice, vege. etc.
Book the jeep for a morning safari, or afternoon or pay higher price US$52 for a whole day safari starting from morning to evening. 2 nights preferably if you take the whole day safari. This tree house is not for the fainthearted, basic amenities that's it but qui